Amazon, which owns Twitch, has turned on a default setting that allows its AI models to use streamers’ content for training, prompting backlash from the community.

Twitch streamers can now opt‑out of Amazon’s new default setting that permits the tech giant to harvest their video and chat content for training artificial‑intelligence models.

Amazon’s AI‑training policy on Twitch

Amazon, the parent company of Twitch, recently activated a policy that automatically grants its AI systems access to the platform’s livestreams, clips and chat logs unless creators explicitly block the usage. The move is part of Amazon’s broader push to improve large‑language models and generative video tools.

The default setting sparked immediate backlash from the creator community, who argue that their content is being repurposed without consent or compensation. Many streamers fear that their unique style, language and community interactions could be incorporated into commercial AI products.

How the new opt‑out works

To prevent their streams from being used, creators must navigate to the “Content usage” section in Twitch’s creator dashboard and toggle the “Allow Amazon AI training” switch off. The change applies retroactively to all past broadcasts as well as future content.

  • Log in to Twitch and open the Creator Dashboard.
  • Select Settings → Content usage.
  • Turn off the Allow Amazon AI training option.
  • Save changes; the setting will now block Amazon’s AI systems from accessing your content.

Community response and legal considerations

Several high‑profile streamers publicly announced their opposition, citing concerns over intellectual‑property rights and the potential for deep‑fake misuse. Legal experts note that while Amazon’s terms of service currently permit such data usage, regulators in the EU and US are examining whether broader consent is required under emerging AI‑related privacy laws.

The controversy has also reignited discussions about revenue sharing for creators whose data fuels profitable AI products. As of now, Amazon has not offered any compensation model for the use of Twitch content in its AI research.

We built Twitch as a community‑first platform; using our streams to train AI without explicit permission feels like a betrayal.

Twitch has indicated that the opt‑out feature will remain available and that it will monitor feedback closely. The company also promised to provide more transparency about how the data is used and to explore potential revenue‑sharing options in the future.

For a detailed look at the policy change and streamer reactions, see the BBC’s coverage of the issue.

BBC coverage of Twitch AI‑training controversy